2008 Dolly Parade Announces Changes

The rain poured during the 2008 Dolly Parade, but that didn't stop thousands of tourists and locals from coming out to see the event's leading lady, Dolly Parton.

However, next year's parade has been rescheduled in an effort to allow visitors more daylight and maybe avoid the rain.

"The shift of Dolly's 2009 Homecoming Parade from April to May gives the event a better chance at warmer weather and extra daylight," Tom Adkinson, spokesman for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, said.

Adkinson said in past events the parade has usually done well, but rain has always been a challenge.

The Homecoming Parade, in which legendary country music star Dolly Parton is grand marshal, has always drawn huge crowds.

However, Adkinson had no projections on what he thought attendance numbers would be like for next year's event.

"A few weeks difference is not that dramatic a change at all, hopefully this time we can avoid the rain and get a few extra hours of daylight," Adkinson said.

Instead of being held in April, the parade will now be held May 8. The parade will not only feature Dolly Parton, but 100 marching bands and participants from both local and out of state locations.

One other important change in the Pigeon Forge Events Calendar was the Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival. The festival has been moved from February to early June.

"This will allow for more family attendance and enhance to the National Youth Storytelling Showcase," Adkinson said.

Other events to be held in Pigeon Forge include:

Jan. 10-17 - 19th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week, the first major event marking the year-long 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Feb. 7 - 9th Annual Saddle Up!, a celebration of cowboy poetry and Western music that includes concerts, the Cowboy Symphony and a chuckwagon cookoff

March 11-15 - 15th Annual A Mountain Quiltfest, featuring quilt shows, and quilting classes

June 4-8 - 18th Annual Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival, featuring performances by professional storytellers and seminars

July 4 - 19th Annual Patriot Festival, featuring music, food, children's games and fireworks

Nov. 5 - 20th Annual Pigeon Forge Winterfest, a four-month celebration of wintertime fun that includes lighting displays, narrated trolley tours, and holiday musical productions.

This list includes only a portion of what's being held in Pigeon Forge within the coming year.

Information courtesy of The Mountain Press

Image courtesy of Dolly Parton